In Sermon Illustrations: "Valley Of The Shadow Of Death"

I Worry About...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

I WORRY ABOUT... Percentage of people who at least occasionally worry about: Having their car stolen or broken into: 42 Home burglarization when they are not at home: 45 Being the victim of terrorism: 38 Having a school-aged child physically harmed at school: 29 Your home being burglarized when ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Anxiety

Sinatra's Fear And Worry

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

SINATRA’S FEAR AND WORRY Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina Sinatra, recalls her father’s unceasing drive to succeed and make money, even when his health was at risk: His health was in tatters and his life mired in financial wrangles, but my father refused to stop giving concerts. "I’ve just got to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

All The Land You Can Cover

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Mar 12, 2011

ALL THE LAND YOU CAN COVER Leo Tolstoy tells this story: A young Russian inherits his father’s small farm. He immediately starts dreaming of how to expand his property when one morning a well-dressed stranger visits him and makes him an offer that is too good to be true. He could have free of ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: Anglican

When To Save A Drowning Man  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

WHEN TO SAVE A DROWNING MAN Watchman Nee tells the story of his stay in China with twenty other Christians. The bathing accommodations were inadequate in the home where they were lodging, so they went for a daily dip in the river. On one occasion, one of the men got a cramp in his leg and began ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 14:12-18, Philippians 2:6

Tags: Salvation, Rescue, Deliver

I Wish I Could Live Life Over Again

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jun 14, 2011

I WISH I COULD LIVE LIFE OVER AGAIN I remember when I was an assistant pastor in TN visiting a man who had lived his whole life in sin and selfishness. He finally came to the Lord in his sixties. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I went to visit him at his home shortly before his death. The day ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

David's Extremes

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 19, 2011

DAVID'S EXTREMES David’s life story is an amazing story of the extremes one person can face in a lifetime: • Early years extremes: o From seclusion to fame o From being a nobody to a somebody. o From forgotten to living legend o From least to greatest o From the runt of the family to the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Tags: David

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Letter Of Karen Watson

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

THE LAST LETTER OF KAREN WATSON Our International Mission Board is working on a project called "The Last Letter." It’s actually an old tradition of soldiers and missionaries who as they boarded a ship, wrote their family and friends a letter that they think might be their final ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Missions

William Borden: No Reserves, Retreats, Regrets

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 23, 2012

WILLIAM BORDEN: NO RESERVES, RETREATS, REGRETS In 1903, a young, bright man named William Borden graduated from high school – a millionaire. He was the heir to the Borden Dairy fortune. Following graduation, William traveled around the world. Everywhere he went he was touched by the needs of ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Frankl And The Meaning Of Life  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012

FRANKL AND THE MEANING OF LIFE When Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis in World War II and put in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, he was stripped of everything: property, family, possessions, and a manuscript he had spent years researching and writing on finding ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:30

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Baptist

Pax Romana  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2012

PAX ROMANA About 27 years before Jesus was born Rome experienced something unique that history has called Pax Romana = the peace of Rome. Beginning with the reign of Augustine, Emperor of Rome and lasting till about 180 A.D. (a period of 200 years) Rome was at peace. They had few internal ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Impersonating A Christian

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jan 16, 2015

In her recently published book “Dance with the Devil” Barbara Bentley shares her experience with former husband, John Perry, a mysterious man, whose father was supposedly portrayed by John Wayne in a World War II movie. She fell in love with him when He dazzled her and her friends with his heroic ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Hypocrisy, Day Of Judgment, False Believer, Imposter

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Human Ingenuity And The Genius Of God

Contributed by Jerry Stephens on Mar 26, 2016

Recently, I was watching a documentary about the top 101 inventions of all time. Pretty cool stuff. Human ingenuity is pretty amazing. We’ve figured out how to do all kinds of things. What are some of the best things human imagination has come up with? I have to tell you, they may not be very ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-29

Tags: Faith, Trusting God, Eternal Life, Human Wisdom

Denomination: Vineyard

Some Thoughts About The First Easter

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 25, 2019

Before the first Easter, the world was under a number of separations: --Political distinctions: various nations, but in that time, Roman Empire. Provinces, leaders --Geographical: some traveled far, others stayed near their home territory; Jewish males had to make three trips to Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:20, Daniel 12:1-3

Tags: Easter, The Afterlife

Denomination: Baptist

"grudgitis" Killer Disease

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 14, 2022

"GRUDGITIS" ... KILLER DISEASE "Fret not thyself because of evildoers..." (Psalm 37:1). A grizzly bear lumbered into a clearing where garbage had been dumped. Tourists noticed that there was only one animal the grizzly would permit to eat with him - a skunk. Doubtless he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1, Colossians 3:12

Tags: Forgiveness, Revenge, Malice, Grudges

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Building Of Busch Stadium, Skirting Rules.

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 16, 2022

In 1966 the St. Louis Cardinals built a new ballpark and named it Busch Memorial Stadium. There is a story that the owner of the Cardinals, August Busch, wanted to name it Budweiser Stadium, but the city officials would not allow him to name it after a beer. Frustrated by their answer, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Human Nature, Ten Commandments

Denomination: Lutheran

Martin Luther And The Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 20, 2022

Martin Luther: 1483-1546 In 2017 – the 400th anniversary of the Reformation, I had the privilege to visit Wittenberg, Germany, birthplace of the Reformation. I walked the cobblestone streets, and even toured Luther’s home. The prodigious Martin Luther appeared headed for the legal profession but ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Galatians 1:1-9

Tags: Faith, Salvation, Gospel, The Cross, Reformation, Justification By Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moved By Grace

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

The word itself... grace... has become trite and debased through misuse and overuse. It does not move us the way it moved our early Christian ancestors. In some European countries, certain high ecclesiastical officials are still called, Your Grace. Sportswriters spoke of Michael Jordan's easy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Tags: Grace, Lacking In Grace, Scandal Of Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Miraculous Adoption Story From India

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2024

In Bihar, India, there is a man named Augustine Jubakumar who leads a mission called Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS). Pastor Augustine and his wife have 4 biological children and 4 adopted children. The stories of their adopted children echo our adoption into God’s family. One child was ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love, Love Of God, Babies, Abortion, Miracles, Adoption, Inheritance, Others, India, Evangelism, Compassion, Salvation, Missions, Chosen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pastor's Wife Behind England's Greatest Pastor

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2024

Susannah Spurgeon (née Thompson; January 15, 1832 – October 22, 1903) was a British author and the devoted wife of Charles Spurgeon. Let’s delve into her remarkable life: Marriage and Family: Susannah Thompson married Charles Spurgeon on January 8, 1856. They were blessed with twin sons, ...read more

Tags: Church Leaders, Calling, Pastor's Wife, Spurgeon, Invalids, Ministry, Marriage, Pastor, Disabled  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Susan Boyle Story

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 26, 2026

ARE WE FACING A STUMBLING BLOCK OR A STEPPING STONE? Do we allow problems and obstacles to define how we feel and what we accomplish? Ever heard of a lady named Susan Boyles? Many defined her by her handicaps. At birth Susan's brain was without oxygen for 5 minutes. Her family refused to become ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 13:22

Tags: Obstacles, Opportunities

Denomination: Assembly Of God